Born To

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are at one with nature in this highly engaging outdoor nursery. Children thrive in their natural surroundings. When they arrive, children receive warm and friendly cuddles from trusted adults. They demonstrate high levels of emotional security. Leaders and staff have created a curriculum that challenges and inspires children. As a result, children are developing proficiency in a number of life skills. For example, they learn how to keep themselves safe, take care of their environments and manage their personal needs.

Children share special moments with their friends as they swing in large hammocks. They read stories together and see who can swing the highest on the swings. In the mud kitchen, they busy themselves making concoctions with items gathered in the forest. Children climb the trees with confidence, calculating risks and managing their own safety. They know that adults are close by to support and guide them.

Children explore with great curiosity. For example, they learn about the bee swarm that arrived nearby. They make 'bee bombs' so that they give back to nature and provide important plants and flowers for the bee population. A forest walk provides opportunities to identify different trees and leaves. Children develop mathematical language as adults describe shapes and patterns and count forest items.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

• Children are supported to develop secure attachments with trusted adults. They receive warm, nurturing and respectful care from staff. The well-planned curriculum ensures that children have endless opportunities to develop important social interaction skills, confidence and resilience. The rich and varied experiences support children to develop respect for nature and love for themselves. Children understand that they must be kind to the plants and wildlife as well as being kind to themselves.
• Adults use well-considered language with children that deliberately broadens their vocabulary. For example, during a forest walk, adults explain what 'hollow' means and show children hollow spaces, such as tree stumps and burrows. Mathematical language is used frequently through children's play. Children learn about hexagons and create them from sticks and stones. Children find sticks and use tape measures to compare lengths of longer and shorter sticks. The forest provides an array of natural resources that support mark making and creativity. For example, children paint with sticks and make patterns in the soil.
• Exciting challenges support children to develop perseverance and resilience. For example, children use stone and flint to create a spark and light the fire. Adults encourage children to move energy from their shoulder to their thumb to create the spark. This helps to develop fine motor skills and core strength. Children keep trying and some successfully start a fire. Children comment that, 'It's okay if you can't do it straight away because you can try again'.
• Children's behaviour is exemplary. They play and work together collaboratively, taking turns and sharing resources. Older children support younger children to learn as they model the rules and expected behaviours. Adults take time to support children in managing their feelings. For example, they ask children to describe how they feel when they have accomplished something or when they are sad. At times, children recognise the need to self-regulate their feelings and find a quiet spot in the forest to relax. Yoga sessions further help children to self-regulate. For example, they engage in 'bee breathing' and feel the space around them as they buzz like bees.
• Children are developing an awareness of healthy lifestyles. They benefit greatly from the fresh air. They recognise the need to rehydrate following physical exercise and when they need to restore energy levels. As a result, children make independent choices about when they eat snacks and have drinks. Children are aware of the importance of handwashing and manage this independently. They are becoming expert nature detectives and know when to put their coats on and wear bug spray.
• Parents say that they feel very fortunate to have a place for their children at the nursery. They speak highly of the knowledgeable and kind staff team. Parents express their happiness regarding how happy and settled their children are and the excellent progress they make.